Member Profile: Helen Covington

Helen Covington

Age: 67

Home base: Jacksonville, Fla.

Home club: The Florida Yacht Club

Grip: Solomon

Mallet: PFC, 10-inch, 3.14 pounds, 36-inch shaft

Years playing croquet: Seven

Favorite croquet venue: I will have to say the Sonoma-Cutrer Winery because it was my very first tournament and I won my division. But you can’t beat the river view from my home course, the Florida Yacht Club (FYC).

Favorite tournament: The Woman’s Golf Croquet Open in October 2021 because I had the best roommates (shout out to Cami Russack, Courtenay Rodonets and Sandy Knuth), met many more wonderful people and played some of my best croquet in a tournament.

How did you get into the game? We built two full-size courts on the river where I had played tennis for years at the Florida Yacht Club. Hall of Fame member, John Curington, came to our club and gave free lessons every Saturday for at least month. I was playing one Saturday and right as Curington came out with a new group, I hit from inside #1 through #2 and everyone cheered. I was hooked! We started a league in the area and play one social and one competitive match a month. At the end of the year, we have a playoff for the league trophy. The group consists of the FYC, the Plantation at Ponte Vedra, Ponte Vedra Croquet Club, Jekyll Island, Grand Haven and Hammock Dunes. This is a great way to play competitive croquet on a regular basis and make new croquet friends. Last year, my partner and I won on a crazy, accidental trick shot I made to seal the match in the finals. It was one of those hampered by the wicket, jump shot out, ricochet off partner’s ball 50+ feet away and through the hoop shots.

Do you play other sports? I was an avid tennis player until my knees started getting bad. I played on working women’s and USTA teams for 30 years. I tried pickleball, fell on the court and realized why I prefer croquet!

Favorite sports teams: Florida State University, University of Florida Gators (except when playing each other) and avid tennis fan.

Pop culture favorites: I love “Star Trek,” “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” (filmed where I lived in Tunisia when I was in the Peace Corps), the Harry Potter books, Jane Austen, anything historical, classic rock and classical music. Croquet highlights: • Won First Flight Singles at 2019 Western Regional Golf

Croquet at Sonoma-Cutrer Winery, came in second in Doubles • Placed Second in both First Flight Doubles and Singles at

Golf Croquet Nationals in 2019 • Champion NFLCC Spring 2020 Ponte Vedra Invitational

Golf Croquet • Runner-up NEFLCC Spring Golf Croquet Open 2021 • Champion NFLCC Fall Cup Golf Croquet 2021 • Winner Championship Singles at the Women’s Golf

Croquet Open 2021 • 2021 Female Golf Croquet Grand Prix Winner of the Year • Runner-Up Florida Regionals Golf Championship

Doubles 2022

What is the best thing the USCA has done for croquet? Having a centralized governing body that sets rules and best practices as well as works to bring in members and build the sport is its greatest accomplishment. Publishing tournaments and articles for all the member clubs is also a great asset because it lets members know where they can find croquet courts all over the country.

What is the USCA’s greatest weakness? Tournaments are long and costly. It would be great to develop smaller sanctioned tournaments that are only two days, so players have fewer hotel and expense nights. Also, lower-cost tournaments; look into having off-season tournaments in places that have high-season prices and limited availability.

What would you like to see happen in the sport over the next 10 years? I would love to see more women in the top levels of play. It is difficult to get women to play in tournaments because the men have dominated the top spots. It would be nice to have development plans that include all ages to train for competitions. I would also love to see more public courts, allowing more people to be able to play the game. In many places, you can only play in private communities and clubs. The Sarasota County Croquet Club is a wonderful example of public/member partnership.

What have you learned from croquet? You can always improve your game and are never too old to start playing croquet. I call it my silver sport!

Quick croquet tip: Just like in many other ball sports, you have to keep your eye on the point of contact. In other words, watch your mallet hit the ball and keep your head down! But most of all, just get outside and have fun!